“Bread and dripping? I need to keep up me strength,” Queenie said. “It’s tiring work all on me tod in a big kitchen like this.”

“Then maybe your worries are at an end,” I said. “I plan to have Miss Warburton-Stoke help me find a qualified chef.”

“What’s wrong with my cooking, then?” she demanded.

“Nothing, except it’s limited to the foods you know and we will have to start entertaining eventually when Mr. O’Mara comes home.”

“You ain’t going to get another of them Spaniards, are you? Because if so I’m heading straight back to Darcy’s auntie in Ireland. They appreciated me, they did.”

“I know that, and I do appreciate you too—most of the time. I just want you to do the job properly. And when we have hired a qualified chef, you should learn from him how to make more elaborate dishes.”

“There ain’t much wrong with a good old toad-in-the-hole or bangers and mash in my opinion,” she muttered. “Will that be all, then?”

“How about whipping us up a batch of scones, unless you’re also out of flour?”

“Bob’s yer uncle, miss,” she said, quite happily now and off she went.

Belinda gave me an exasperated look. “Georgie, she’s still utterly hopeless,” she said. “Wouldn’t it be the kindest thing to put her out of her misery right now?”

I had to laugh. “Belinda! She’s not too bad most of the time. We’ve caught her off guard, and she’s probably feeling guilty.”

Belinda had removed her chic driving cap and shook out her sleek black hair. “You’re going to have to get rid of her eventually, you know. You can’t have proper visitors here with a cook who talks to you like that.”

I sighed. “The problem is that I’m fond of her in a way. And she has been awfully brave in difficult situations. She saved my life, you know. I have come to accept that she will never learn.”

“She doesn’t want to learn, that’s quite obvious. She’s completely bolshie. But I must say I was impressed with the way you spoke to her. Quite like the lady of the manor. You’ve come a long way since you were shy and bumbling Georgie.”

“I still hate doing it,” I said. “I’m not naturally bossy.” I picked up the teapot and poured two cups. “Anyway, back to Cornwall,” I said. “This new property. What do you know about it?”

“Absolutely nothing,” Belinda said. “So I thought I ought to go down and take a look for myself. And I wondered if you’d like to come with me. A girl’s outing. And adventure. Just like old times, what?”

“Oh rather,” I said.

Chapter 3

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15

On the way to Cornwall. Holding on to my hat. Belinda drives awfully fast! Golly, I hope we get there in one piece.